The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-06-25
AT LAST.

Justice, proverbially slow, has limped
and halted more than usual in its pur-
suit Of the murderer Fred Hopt. Seven
years have passed since the fellow cruelty
murdered his friend and benefactOr.
The deed was one of the most wicked in
its conception and execution, the details
Of the crime being revolving in the ex-
IRENE. One wonders how a human
being could commit the crime Of which
this most miserable wretch is guilty.
OF his guilt there was never doubt in
. the minds Of those who read the account
OF the tragedy, and the story CT Hopt's
conduct between the time of the killing
and his capture. Though his crime was
the bloodiest and his guilt conceded,
the murderer, almost without money,
and practically IN the same condition
as to friends, has been able to
defeat Justice and defy the executioner
during all these long years; only now
does it seem that it is no longer posi-
BILE for him to laugh ct the law and
cheat the blind goddess who has been
so laDguid and unsteady in her p1r-
suit of him. Unless there shall be a |
miraculous interposition to prevent |
Hopt's career will terminate on the |
day fixed for his execution in the Dis.
trict Court on Friday. The courts
have gotten through with his case, the
highest tribunal in the land having
decided that his last trial was regular
and that mis- execution will be proper,
The Marshal alone now has to deal
with the doomed man, and that
officials duty is one with the perform
ance of which the law will hardly inter
fere. The miserable man may there
fore devote the few days on earth re-
naming to him, to preparation for
standing before the tribunal to which
we must all answer for deeds done in
life.
The evil OF the laws delay is very
fOrcibv illustrated in this case.
There are two objects in the application
of the penalties provided in the criminal
statutes to those who break the law
One is to punish the guilty, and the
other is to deter, through q warning, !
others from the commission of crime.
This latter object has been almost en- s
tirely lost IN the Hopt case. At the :
time he did the murder, and for long 2
period thereafter, Hopt was regarded {
with horror by every body; no one had
a good word for him, and all execrated =
the fellow as one Of the most inhuman 9
wretches who had ever lived. His exc :;
cution within g reasonable time would
have had the proper effect upon the
public mind. AS trial after trial was 7
had, however, and as time after time he
cheated the executioner, sentiment
gradually changed towards him; people
forgot about his bloody deed, and we !.
regret to say, good many brought .
themselves to sympathize with the fell
low, while some have expressed the wish :
that he would finally escape the punish b
so richly merits. Another year .
of delay, and it would shock portion of b
the community to execute the muir !
derer, so peculiar, forgetiul ard sym u
pathetic is humanity. ,
1t is well that the execution comes at .
last, 1t is well that the fellow will be
made to psy the penalty provided for
his crime. and it is well that the public :;
will be brought to a realization that =
murder is punishable by death, even r
though the execution may be DELAYED Q
beyond reasonable limits.